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Cole anchor the hub end of the spoke in rotating aluminium barrels that they say allows for more precise alignment and more spoke tension

James Huang

Timmerman's SRAM Force crankarms show the signs of a tough season

James Huang

CrankBrothers' Candy SL pedals offer a bit more of a platform to stand on than their more minimal Egg Beaters

James Huang

The Force front derailleur is attached to a carbon fibre braze-on adapter from Parlee

James Huang

Selle San Marco make special red Aspide saddles just for Sachs

James Huang

The rear hub features the same cylindrical aluminium spoke anchors plus an alloy freehub body

James Huang

The new Cole skewers have wide handles

James Huang

SRAM have updated their Force group this year with more Red-like features and a sleek dark grey finish

James Huang

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Richards Sachs-RGM Watches rider Dan Timmerman stood out from the field at last month's US cyclo-cross national championship not only because of his mountain man beard but also due to his 'old-school' rig, built around a classically proportioned lugged steel frame and matching fork.

Naysayers would be quick to point out its heft – it's a full kilogram heavier than other elite-level machines at 8.72kg (19.22lb) complete – but Timmerman let his legs do the talking in 2009 with six UCI wins, 10 UCI podium appearances, the VERGE series overall win and an impressive eighth-place finish in the men's elite race at the nationals to cap off for his best season yet.

"To a certain extent, obsessing over weight makes more of a difference in a rider's head than it does on the course," Timmerman says. "Sure, it makes a difference to some degree, particularly rotating weight, but the engineering, experience and wisdom that goes into the frame geometry, tube shapes and the overall ride quality make so much more of a difference that it can easily make a pound or more completely negligible."

Sachs builds the team's bikes with a special lighter-weight version of his usual Columbus PegoRichie tubeset. The "way shorter" butts shave grams but also require more careful tubing selection, and the niobium-enhanced alloy is highly resistant to impact damage – a key attribute in a sport that regularly sees extensive travel.

In place of TIG welding and radical shaping, Sachs instead prefers to use his own brazed short-point lugs and round profiles that he's continuously developed since first building frames in 1972. And to prove that Sachs knows what is required of his racers, he's no slouch on the bike himself, finishing the season ranked fifth nationally overall in the men's master category.

Claimed frame weights are better than most would guess at an estimated 1.5-1.6kg (3.4-3.5lb) for team bikes, putting them roughly on par with most modern aluminium chassis. According to Sachs, the matching steel fork adds another 620g – 100g more than top carbon models but resulting in a balanced performance and feel front to rear.

Timmerman adds that the steel frame's distinct ride quality suits his light-footed riding style. "Back in the day on the mountain bike I was always described as a finesse rider, getting by more with technical skills rather than fitness," he says.

"I gained a lot of fitness since then, but I still enjoy a more technical mountain bike-ish type of course with lots of turns and bike driving. The RS machine carves turns and dampens bumpy lines, and is smooth as butter with a nice balanced geometry. It's been a very predictable, fast machine."

Sachs famously prides the squad on its strict adherence to sponsor-appropriate equipment with deviations from the designated team spec allowed only in very extreme circumstances and after prior discussion.

Pundits will quickly point out that none of the aforementioned gear is generally considered ultra-elite gear and a few key upgrades would net major weight savings. But Sachs insists the benefits of maintaining high-quality and long-term relationships with his sponsors ultimately yields more benefits to the team and its riders. To his credit, the team boasts nine national championships to date since 1997.